1 6 Report of the Board of Shell Fish Commissioners. 



The steamer "GOVERNOR R. M. McLANE," belonging to the 

 State Fishery Force and placed at the disposal of the Commission 

 in accordance with Section 97 of the Hainan Oyster Culture Law, 

 has been used for surveying oyster grounds situated in the bold 

 waters of the Chesapeake bay. This steamer has also been used for 

 placing buoys at the corners of the natural oyster bars; towing the 

 houseboat '"OYSTER" from one anchorage to another, and for 

 transporting supplies (coal, water and provisions) to the houseboat. 



The launch "INVESTIGATOR," 1 a bay canoe, 34 feet long with 

 7.5-foot beam, purchased by the Commission and fitted with an 

 eight horse power Fairbanks gasoline engine, has been used since 

 1906 for making examinations of oyster grounds and for collecting 

 data and specimens for the physical and biological investigations. 

 During the season of 1906 various boats were hired for this work, 

 but the necessity for increasing the number of examinations of the 

 grounds surveyed was later realized and a launch more perfectly 

 adapted for the work was therefore fitted up. 



A scow, the "MARYLAND," 32 feet long, 12 feet wide and 3 

 feet deep, has been built and equipped by the Commission for use 

 in transporting buoys and sinkers and placing them at the cor- 

 ners of the natural oyster beds. The scow is towed from place to 

 place either by the launches or by the steamer "GOVERNOR R. M. 

 McLANE" and the sinkers and buoys are dropped from her deck. 



The following description of the houseboat "OYSTER" is copied 

 from the report prepared by Captain C. C. Yates and published by 

 the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey : 



HOUSEBOAT "OYSTER." 2 



"While arranging to turn over the command of the steamer Endeavor, the rep- 

 resentative of the Survey, acting under preliminary instructions from the 

 Superintendent, was engaged in frequent consultation with the Shell Fish Com- 

 missioners in reference to the program of future work. In addition to these 

 duties, he undertook for the Commissioners the planning and supervision neces- 

 sary to convert the old side-wheel steamei Thomas L. Worthley into a house- 

 boat for the surveying parties of both the Commission and the Government. 



The Worthley, now called the houseboat Oyster, was in excellent condition 

 when purchased by the Commission. The keelsons and timbers were sound, and 

 the upper works strong. After the removal of the old engine and boiler, the 

 houseboat was docked and her hull thoroughly examined. The outside planking 

 below the water line was found in good condition, and, although it was recalked, 



1 See frontispiece. 



2 See illustration opposite page 16. 



